The director of civil defense for Oaxaca
state, Manuel Maza Sanchez, said the surfer, from Colorado, died
while surfing at Playa Azul, a beach near the resort town of Puerto
Escondido, when Barbara hit as a Category 1
hurricane about 120 miles (200 kilometers) to the east.

He said the man was dragged out by waves kicked up by Barbara and then battered against the shore.

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City was not immediately able to confirm the man's name, nationality or hometown.

Maza Sanchez also said the Mexican drowned in the nearby city of Pinotepa Nacional while trying
to cross a rain-swollen creek.

Very strong winds and intense rainfall had hit the region and power outages were reported

A police officer walks outside a damaged store covered in broken glass caused by high winds after Hurricane Barbara passed through Arriaga

According to media reports, 14 fishermen disappeared in the state of Oaxaca during the storm, but local emergency services said they could not confirm that information.

The hurricane was churning north-northeast at about 9mph and is expected to weaken rapidly overnight, the NHC said.

Mr Maza said that very strong winds and intense rainfall had hit the region and that power outages were reported.

Mexican state oil monopoly Pemex said that operations were normal at its biggest refinery, located in the port of Salina Cruz. The plant has the capacity to process 330,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

Ports for small vessels in the area have been closed and emergency services in Oaxaca said they evacuated residents from some areas as a precaution, including the immediate vicinity of the refinery.